Excelsiors hold on for 7-6 win, close to within 2-1 of Chiefs in MSL semis

Mike Burke, here against Oakville, scored 4 points to lead Brampton to a
7-6 win in Game 3 of the MSL semis. (Photo: Dave Fryer)

The Brampton Excelsiors entered Game 2 of the Major Series Lacrosse semifinals with a 6-4 lead over the Six Nations Chiefs but got blanked 3-0 in the third period to fall 7-6. Saturday night, the Excels again entered the third ahead, this time 6-5, and they applied the lesson learned from their previous loss to pull out Game 3 with a 7-6 win that tightens up the series at 2-1 for Six Nations.

Brandon Benn and Joe Resetarits gave Brampton a 2-0 lead by the 4:19 mark of the first period. After Brandon Goodwin got one back for the Chiefs, Brampton opened the second period scoring three of the first four goals to stretch their lead to 5-2. A pair of the second-period markers came from Mike Burke. 

Much like back in Game 2, the lead started to disappear gradually. Jeff Shattler scored 3 goals in the last half of the second period, including one with just two seconds to play, to gain ground for Six Nations. Only a Tyler Ferreira marker 1:18 from the end kept the Excelsiors ahead going into the third frame. 

This time, though, Brampton was able to score in the third period, even if it was only once. Junior callup Jeff Teat scored 27 seconds into the frame to make it 7-5. Dhane Smith scored Six Nations' third power play goal of the night at 10:28 to pull the Chiefs within one again. 

The Brampton defence and goalie Tyler Carlson held the fort the rest of the way, though, to earn their first MSL playoff win since they last claimed the Mann Cup back in 2011. Carlson made 39 saves for the win. 

The series resumes Tuesday night in Brampton.